Phil Mickelson got a virtually unanimous response as he floated the idea of an expanded LIV Golf tour, which would threaten a potential merger with the PGA Tour. Taking to social media, the golf legend proposed amplifying the tour he controversially joined at its launch in 2022, suggesting a significantly bigger and busier schedule.
It would double the tour’s size, creating a 120-player field with shotgun starts in the morning and afternoon. The tour currently consists of 54 players, 13 teams and 14 global events. Mickelson posted on X: “Here’s a random Monday morning ‘hypothetical’ question. What if LIV went to a 35-event, full 120-person field, dual shotgun start (morning and afternoon), and the current LIV events were the ‘elevated’ events within the schedule. Where would those additional players come from, and what would happen to the PGA Tour then?”
But many golf fans, particularly those with allegiance to the PGA Tour, reacted to Mickelson’s ideas with scorn rather than praise. Some even appealed for him to ditch the controversial series and return to his roots.
One defiant fan told Mickelson: “Phil, LIV is a failed experiment, but you all banked it. Take the personal W (win) and move on.”
Amidst stalled discussions over a possible merging of the PGA Tour and LIV, another fan suggested compromise instead of competition, saying: “What if the tours got back together and had 20 total events at great venues with great fields…everything else was trying to qualify for those 20 events that include majors.”
Mickelson described that concept as “awesome.” However, it was one of the few exchanges in which he escaped criticism. Former PGA Tour player turned commentator Colt Knost responded sarcastically: “That’s a lot of concerts!”
Knost was alluding to the fact that many LIV events are accompanied by concerts by performers such as Jason Derulo, Sublime and Riley Green. Meanwhile, the appetite for team events is occasional, argued one traditionalist, who said: “There are a few team events, such as the Ryder Cup, that are fine on an occasional basis. Traditionalists will never agree to 54-hole LIV golf.”
Another said: “No one wants to see shotgun starts, let alone dual shotgun starts with more players that no one knows.”
Mickelson is part of the field at The Open Championship at Portrush. He faces an early start on Thursday, teeing off at 7.19am with South Africa’s Daniel van Tonder and Ryan Peake from Australia. On Friday, he will be out at a later time of 12.09pm.